Why I would discourage Republicans from voting for a Democrat for Pres

[Bandit]

My logic is convoluted but here it is. They are still Republicans and they may not like Bush* and are willing to vote against him but the rest of the ticket they will still vote Republican. I would rather just encourage them to just stay home and not lower themselves to vote for a Democrat so we could possibly pick up a few seats for Congress. The more we can convince to stay home and not vote the better our chances are of regaining the congress. Think about it.

[forgethell]

1. the logic is not convoluted,

but if I were a Republican, I would be asking, "what's in it for me?" In other words, even if they didn't like *, why would they let a Democratic President have a compliant Congress, including a liberal Senate? Much easier just to vote liberal judges down than have to filibuster them, as we have found out in reverse.

So while I applaud the grand strategy, what are the tactics? How to convince the Repukes to vote to their own disadvantage.

[Bandit]

2. The logic is not to vote against their interest just not to vote period.

:shrug: The more that stay home and refuse to go vote the better for us.

[forgethell]

10. But why shouldn't they vote

for their interests in other races?? You seem to think that R*s are stupid and/or apathetic. Not the ones that I know, I assure you. Anyway, they will decide that they have no where else to go, so they will vote for Bush. I think.

[Devlzown]

3. That's very complicated.

I would say that in a state like Ohio, which we need very badly and which is likely to be very close, we could use every single vote we can get, regardless of how they vote in congressional races. In the more liberal states like Mass., for instance, we could sacrifice some votes depending on the congressional district. I think this this discussion isn't very realistic, though, because Republicans aren't likely to ask Democrats for advice on how they should vote.

[x-g.o.p.er]

4. I so disagree

As an ex-republican who will vote democratic, the reason I am voting dem is so there will be a split in power. As much as I hate to admit it, when Clinton was in the WH and Rep's ran Congress, our country had arguably the most prosperous 8 years in our history. Same when Reagan was in charge and Dem's had the congress.

I love my country, and it seems that whenever one party has complete control, things seem to go to hell in a hat basket. I think a split power base will restore sanity to our fiscal madness, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, a more civil discourse can be restored, instead of just name-calling and partisan rhetoric and hyperbole.

I voted for Bush in 2000, and was a life long republican until a couple months ago, but not in '04. And Bandit, regardless of how someone votes, how can you ask them not to exercise their constitutional right to vote, regardless of who they vote for? I would much rather see someone vote for my candidate's opponent, and be passionate about it, than to not vote. Apathy and disengagement is part of the reason this country is in the state it is.

Political agitation is the reason this republic came to be; may it be restored along with the civil discourse we used to engage in. ABB
in '04!!!!

[treepig]

5. you're not serious, are you, about reagan?

huge deficits, job growth that trailed carter for heaven's sake!

In order of relative job growth (% change per year):

Kennedy/Johnson: (+) 3.27%
Carter: (+) 3.11%
Clinton: (+) 2.38%
Reagan: (+) 2.04%
Nixon/Ford: (+) 1.90%
Eisenhower: (+) 0.846%
Bush I: (+) 0.632%
Bush II: (-) 0.777%

Republican average: 1.27%
Democratic average: 2.88%
Overall average: 1.90%

[x-g.o.p.er]

7. Yes, I am

But hey, let's agree to disagree. The point is, jobs were still created. A lot of jobs, and times were prosperous. And there wasn't nearly the poisonous political bile back then that there is now.

[Devlzown]

6. You sound like my dad!

He voted for Republicans for years. In '92 he voted for Clinton and since then he's voted for Democrats for President and Republicans for Congress. He says they anatagonize each other and don't get anything done, and that's just the way he likes it. He's a trip!

[rumguy]

8. I agree, most politicians are motivated by power

that's just the reality. I support the Democratic Party because I see its core principles as being basically sound. That being said, if the democrats ever controlled all of the government, I'd probably be worried.

A Democracy simply cannot funtion without intelligent debate.

[Toots]

9. You would not have liked it under JFK then.

I think this is wishful thinking. I too would like to pick up Congress but I want it to be because America wants it. If the republicans do stay home in droves though it won't break my heart. I suspect there will be some that do. Those are the ones who could never vote for a Democrat but also will not vote for this Administration again. That is just fine by me.

[Rebellious Republican]

11. Welcome to DU, from one x-g.o.p.er to another....

I came over to the Dem side after Jeb took over down here in Florida!
I did not vote for Jeb in 98 and 02, or George in 2000, Neil Bush stole my life savings whith his S&L scam back in the 80's. I have never forgotten that. I knew that they were bad news and I was not wrong. I think your analysis is spot on!

:toast: